The exotic breed of mozzies, capable of carrying the virus, was found at Darwin’s East Arm Wharf.

The mosquitoes were discovered in traps set up around the port by Department of Agriculture staff.

Medical entomologist William Petit said where the blood suckers came from was being investigated.

“It is likely they have emerged from water holding cargo that has arrived from a country where this variety of mosquito is prevalent,” he said.

“Two female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were detected on Monday from a trap set last week.”

He said people couldn’t catch dengue in the Territory thanks to strict monitoring.

“We jump straight into ­action to ensure we eliminate them quickly, to maintain the Northern Territory’s dengue mosquito-free status,” he said.

“We work collaboratively ... to carry out a surveillance and control operation which includes fogging with a safe household-strength insecticide and inspecting the area to ensure we’ve stopped the incursion. With a busy international port this variety of mosquito appears from time to time, but thanks to our surveillance and control measures they are picked up and dealt with ­swiftly.”

Dengue fever is a viral ­disease that is spread when mosquitoes bite an infected person and then pass the ­infection on to others.

It is a problem in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, including north Queensland. It is estimated about 100 million cases occur worldwide each year.

Dengue fever can range in severity from a mild flu-like ­illness through to a severe ­disease.

Comments on this story

Amber of Cairns, Qld Posted at 2:04 PM September 06, 2014

That is awesome that they jump on it so quickly, Qld needs to get its crap together. We burn coils everyday in our crochead mozzie coil holder to prevent the pest. Once someone has dengue the health dept comes and does the houses within 50mtrs (the test takes a week!!). NT well done!!

Lucky of Bellamack Posted at 12:16 PM September 05, 2014

these guys a doing a good job........

Chickie of Bellamack Posted at 8:22 AM September 05, 2014

That's a good find, good jobs to the Dept of Agriculture formerly known as AQIS guys for keeping a top watch